Growth disturbances associated with untreated benign bone cysts.
BACKGROUND
The occurrence of benign bone cysts adjacent to an active physis may be associated with a physeal arrest. That arrest may result from physeal penetration of the cysts itself, secondary pathologic fracture or the result of surgical curettage.


METHODS
The pre-treatment X-rays of patients attending the Bone Tumor Clinic at the Children's Hospital and Medical Center were reviewed. Those patients presenting with a bone cyst were identified and the affected side was compared to the normal side in order to determine growth discrepancies.


RESULTS
Three cases of benign bone cysts are presented that were located adjacent to a growing physis nad produced growth disturbance in the absence of surgical intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of growth disturbance in itself should not be a contraindication to surgical intervention.
Clayer
M
M
Department of Orthaedics and Trauma, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia.
Boatright
C
C
Conrad
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D001845:Bone Cysts / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies